PEARLY NAUTILUS, the Nautiluspompilius; common in the Pacific and
Indian Oceans, especially toward the
Moluccas. It is believed to inhabit both
deep and shallow water. Its fine
mother-of-pearl is much in request with cabinet
makers and jewelers. The smallest and
most excavated partitions are used to
make pendants for the ear. By removing
the external layer of the shell which
is not nacreous, drinking vessels of great
brilliancy are made in the East, as they
formerly were also in Europe.